Cabinet Transformations
I’ve talked about painting cabinets before.  But now achieving the look of stained & glazed wood doesn’t seem so impossible for an amateur DIY homeowner.  The Cabinet Transformations kit comes in 70 different colors.  The website claims “no stripping, no sanding, no priming” (although in the FAQ section they do recommend a Zinsser Primer if using raw wood).  They claim it works on all wood, melamine, and laminate surfaces.

Here’s a before & after cabinet photo from their website:

Countertop Transformations:

This is a simple (yet messy) kit that covers existing laminate countertops (also claims to work on wood or metal trim) using 3 layers:  1)  Adhesive base coat, 2) Decorative Color Chips, and 3)  Protective Coating.

It is currently only available in these colors:

Here’s a before/after countertop photo from their website:

I haven’t used this product, and only know info from the bloggers’ opinions and from Rust-Oleum’s website.
But it sounds like a great product and I’d be willing to try it (maybe it’s finally time to do something with the honey oak that I despise so much in my kitchen and bathroom?)  I sure wish Rust-Oleum would use me as a guinea pig with their product…

I’m loving the look of chandeliers in kitchens.  Not in the traditional way where the kitchen is so ornate and over-the-top that you expect to see an elaborate light fixture…

like this:

But in the untraditional unexpected way where a chandelier adds just a touch of elegance or personality or just plain fun, like the photos below:

Back when I lived in Washington DC, while working at Case Design / Remodeling, I had the chance to work with a wonderful client on what turned into a whole-house remodel.  To this day, their kitchen is still one of my favorite projects.

I love the mix of white cabinets, carrera marble and lagos blue limestone countertops, and the subway tile.  And the tile floor really sets it all off.  I have to give credit to my client for the floor, as I was worried it might be too busy but she pushed for it, and it looks fantastic!

We’ve been tempted to paint our ugly oak cabinets black.  And I really wish we could.  However, if you’ve seen my kitchen, you know how off-balance it is.  Half the kitchen is full of cabinets that run all the way to the 10′ ceiling.  Painting all of these cabinets black would be just too heavy.   So we decided to get our black fix by painting our Dining Room black instead.

This looks like a DIY project?  I would expect that painting old cabinetry black would be much easier than painting them white.

I’m curious to hear what others think!

I’ve had several clients recently who are interested in traditional white kitchens with a modern edge.  White kitchens are classic.  If you keep it simple you can create a timeless look with modern touches that will demand attention.  For example, the above kitchen uses a pop of orange, stainless floating shelves, and retro pendant lights.  Yet behind all that is your basic traditional white kitchen with subway tile and wood floors (and a beautiful gray island!) that would blend into any type of home from Colonial to Victorian to Cape Cod.

Below, the modern hardware, simple lines, glass accent tile, and gray undertones keep this white kitchen elegantly modern.

I think my favorite thing about Poggenpohl is their ingenuity.  They are always looking for new ways to define the kitchen and integrate it into the home.  The new Artesio kitchen, designed by Hadi Teherani, carries it one step further.  This kitchen, in usual Poggenpohl form, goes beyond just the cabinetry, and that’s what I love.  The look obviously won’t work for many of our homes (though I bet it would if we did have a home like those shown on their site – tall ceilings, open plans, and tons of windows!)

Notice the big box-like structure that forms an arch connecting parts of the kitchen?  This is more than just architectural.  It’s the power management area, which includes lighting, electrical, and audio system options.  It also contains the display area glassed in on 3 sides with LED lighting on top.  There are various bottom inserts available for this display area so it can serve many different purposes, whether storage or display.

The wall systems are integrated with the cabinetry.  Another thing Poggenpohl really does well that we kitchen designers should pay attention to is their use of the backsplash area.  Rarely do you just see decorative tile – Poggenpohl recognizes the potential use of that wall and offers accessories like shelving and other organizational systems, all built-in and flexible as a part of the kitchen.  Note the horizontal stainless steel accent strip that also serves as a power strip and mounting plate for wall-mount faucets.

The design carries through to the dining furniture and beyond, again focusing on the integral role the kitchen plays in the home.

I think I like the ideas here more than the actual kitchen (though the kitchen itself is beautiful too). The idea of integrating the kitchen, so the line between cabinetry and everything else becomes blurred, is a great concept.  And adding decorative/architectural details for practical purposes like power, storage, and lighting is ingenious.

I thought I might share a project in Park City that I recently completed through Arendal Kitchen Design.  The cabinetry is stainless steel and maple, which, combined with the natural elements of the stone, granite, and rustic wood floors, create a great “mountain modern” look. 

The cabinetry is from Wood-Mode.  The custom stainless steel floating shelves and island accents were a fun challenge.  The shelves needed a strong hidden bracing so they’d be able to support the weight of heavy pots and pans, and they also needed to be able to accommodate the built-in task lighting.  I worked with Ray Bird and Kingdon Sheet Metal to get all the components just right, and our installers made it all fit together perfectly.  Scandia 360 was the general contractor. 

We’re talking original 1977 kitchen, complete with mustard yellow fixtures (other appliances used to match the sink, but had already been replaced.)

• Removed the peninsula wall cabinets and installed them on a separate wall, one on top and one on bottom
• Painted the cabinets (ask me how if you’re interested)
• Painted the walls
• Installed new cabinet knobs
• Replaced the countertops
• Installed laminate flooring
• Installed new undercabinet lights
• Installed new sink, faucet, and disposal
• Installed a tile backsplash